Facebook blocks access to its hidden, unreleased iPad application

While a simple hack temporarily allowed users to preview what is expected to be Facebook's official iPad application, the social networking site has since blocked users from logging in with the unreleased software.

Users who implement the modification are still able to launch the iPad-friendly version of the Facebook iOS application, but according to TechCrunch, "newcomers are being turned away at the login screen."

"Oddly it seems that those who managed to sneak into the party before Facebook started closing the gates are still on the list... to some extent," the report said.

Since the Facebook-for-iPad tweak gained considerable attention, the social networking site has apparently blocked new users, and made it so certain features do not work for those who have already implemented the hack. For example, notifications are said to be acting strangely or not functioning at all.

Earlier this week, it was discovered that a native version of the Facebook application was hidden in the latest update to the iPhone application available on the App Store. By making slight modifications, users were able to unlock the concealed software that was mostly written in HTML 5.

The secret Facebook iPad application features a left-side menu system for navigating the site. It also has iPad-specific user interface elements, like overlay menus to write a post on the site.

Flipping the iPad horizontally also makes a user's list of online friends appear for chat. Users could also share photos with the native application.

The secret software was discovered in version 3.4.4 of the Facebook for iPhone application released this week. The latest update was characterized in the App Store as including a handful of bug fixes, but made no mention of the iPad. In fact, Facebook has never publicly made mention of a forthcoming native iPad application.

But in June, The New York Times reported that the site was set to launch official software on the iPad App Store in "coming weeks." The software was said to feature a "slick design" tailored for the multi-touch interface of the iPad, including overhauled Facebook Chat and Groups features, and also allowing the ability to shoot and upload photos and videos.

Earlier this month, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg promised his company plans to launch a number of products in the coming weeks and months. He referred to the period as Facebook's "launching season" of 2011, a season that kicked off with the announcement of a new partnership with Skype for video calling.

The problem is Facebook has become like Google in their development process. That is, throw everything at the wall and don't even care what sticks.

As long as people keep getting sucked into the ecosystem and keep releasing more and more personal information, they will thrive.

Companies are now so heavily adopting Facebook that it's getting a real "second wind".

Personally, in the past year I find the site quite baffling and have reduced my usage of it.

Zuckerberg probably doesn't give two zucks about when, where, how or if any kind of official iPad app was released.

I agree with everything you are saying. I closed my Facebook account a few months back, but every artist and company is jumping on the Facebook bandwagon. Just yesterday I found a software complany (DVDtoDVx or some such transcoding software for Mac) that offered an additional $10 discount for Facebook users!
Peter Jackson is posting the Hobbit production diaries on Facebook. I wait till it is uploaded on Youtube and download it from there.

I wish people would stop assuming that everyone has a Facebook account, but it could very well become the next "e-mail". It's difficult to imagine someone using the Internet without an email account. Maybe Facebook will become something like it, if it hasn't already.

It's true, you cannot make 500 million friends without making a few enemies... Zuckerberg, I hate you!!

It's true, you cannot make 500 million friends without making a few enemies... Zuckerberg, I hate you!!

Hahaha! Ain't it the truth! I find it to be an appalling service, crap design of their site and buggy software on my iPhone. Yet I 'need' to check that Facepalm site/app since some friend tell me "we don't use email anymore, just facebook us". I cannot understand why people hang out their laundry (clean or dirty) for half the world to see and don't actually communicate anymore. It's more of a one-way communication, this facebook thing.

And the fact that companies want to use social media, validate it at 70 billion or whatever is beyond me. Zuckerberg walking around with the word bitch on his business card is incomprehensible to me. Apparently he has a different card now.